SBS to use software from Kirchman.

SBS Data Services Inc., a bank service bureau company, has picked Kirchman Corp.'s Dimension integrated software as its core platform.

SBS Data is a new unit of SBS Corp., a Birmingham, Ala.-based software company that specializes in community banks.

The subsidiary has centers in Birmingham and Atlanta.

According to Robert Kirk, an SBS Corp. executive, SBS decided to create the new service bureau subsidiary after existing clients had expressed a strong interest in outsourcing services.

Banks Polled

Mr. Kirk said that before signing on with Kirchman, he and his fellow SBS executives had evaluated the offerings of the major players in the outsourcing market. Part of the evaluation involved visiting 50 banks and talking to executives at 200 others.

Mr. Kirk said that it was a plus that Kirchman's Dimension software runs on AT&T System 3000.

"The system enables multiple processing tasks to occur simultaneously with virtually no restraints or limitations on the peripherals that can be added or interfaced," he said.

SBS Data Services has been holding seminars for its community banking clients to introduce them to the Kirchman offering.

The first two banks to contract for outsourcing services are United Bank of Atmore and First National Columbiana Bank, both in Alabama.

Continuing Education

Mr. Kirk said that SBS is taking a different approach to the outsourcing relationship.

For example, a standard five-year contract with SBS stipulates that SBS executives will visit the bank once a month to work on improving how executives use the software.

"When we studied what different banks were using, we found out that across the board, banks were underutilizing the software they had on hand," explained Mr. Kirk. "Our goal is bring our community banking clients to the highest level of functionality possible."

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